Durham, N. C. - May 3, 1911 - Under beautiful skies and before 10,000 people, Lincoln Beachey of San Francisco flew his Curtiss biplane this afternoon many times around the baseball park and circled East Durham in triumphant style. The descent and landing were perfect until the machine struck the diamond and shot to the fence and into the crowd of moneyless rubberneckers. Chief mechanicians Daubert ran before the machine, caught the sail and was thrown under it. He was not badly hurt. The inability to keep back the payless crowd prevented the second flight. The aviator's high dive almost to the heads of the battalions on the outside was a daring thing and so frightened the free lookers that they ran over each other. It caused some skinned shins but nothing more.Source: The Charlotte N.C. Daily Observer

ZEPPELIN LOSES ANOTHER AIRSHIPGreat Dirigible Deutschland Is Wrecked After Career of Six Weeks

Dusseldorf, Rhenish Prussia, May 16, 1911 - After a career of six weeks, the Deutschland, latest of the models of Count Zeppelin's ill-fated dirigible balloons, stranded today on the roof of its shed, a total wreck. The crew and passengers escaped injury.
The accident occurred as the Deutschland was being released for a passenger trip. Eight passengers, four men and four women, had seated themselves comfortably in the cabin, the crew were at their posts and 200 men on the ground clung to the guide ropes as the powerful craft slowly emerged from her berth, and, under pressure of over a half million cubic feet of gas, struggled to be free.
Just as the airship left the shed a violent gust of wind drove her back against the entrance. At the impact several of the balloonettes burst and the released gas destroyed her equilibrium. The army of men at the guide ropes clung on desperately, but were powerless against the wind, and another gust lifted the airship bodily. She dropped upon the roof of the shed, her back broken and her hull left dangling over one edge. In this position the crew and passengers were left helpless until a fire brigade, hurriedly summoned to the scene ran ladders to the top of the balloon shed and pulled the marooned ones out of the wreck.
Today's was the sixth serious accident which has befallen the Zeppelin dirigibles. The Zeppelin I., Zeppelin II., Zeppelin III., Zeppelin IV., the Deutschland and the new Deutschland all have come to grief after short though brilliant lives.Source: The Atlanta Georgia Constitution

Cincinnati, Ohio - May 18, 1911 - Absolute divorce was granted here today to Grace M. Brookins from Walter Brookins, the aviator. The couple were married in 1907 when he was a chauffeur and she a trained nurse in the household of a Cincinnati family. At the time Brookins was only 18 and his wife 19.Source: The Atlanta Georgia Constitution

Jamestown, N.D. - May 19, 1911 - Saturday, May 27, will be aviation day at Jamestown. The Jamestown Commercial club last night closed a contract under which the daring bird man, Robert C. St. Henry, will fly from the fair grounds in this city in a Curtiss biplane, and give a complete demonstration of the wonder of the age. St. Henry is a spectacular aviator and the representative, Mr. M.D. Hanlon assures Jamestown one of the most interesting as well as instructive events that has ever been held in this city. The commercial club is to be congratulated in getting the aviation meet.
Under the contract three flights are guaranteed at least 50 feet high with the possibility of a flight of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, depending upon the weather. In case of rain or weather conditions preventing a flight May 27, the contract holds good for the follow day, May 28. All of the business houses of Jamestown will close Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5 during the time of the flights. St. Henry will bring one machine here with duplicate parts throughout ion case of breakdown. An expert machinist and demonstrator will be present to explain the work of the airship. An admission of 50 cents to the grounds will be charged to cover the guarantee required by Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Co., under whose direction St. Henry is flying.Source: Fargo North Dakota Forum & Daily Republican

CURTISS HURTThe Hammondsport Aviator Flops Down Into Water on Lake Keuka

Hammondsport, N.Y., May 20, 1911 - While flying a monoplane over Seneca lake Glenn H. Curtiss, of Hammondsport, wrecked the machine and sustained a bad injury above his eyes. The accident happened Wednesday evening about 6 o'clock, just as the aviator was about to bring his machine in for the day. Few witnessed the flight and mishap.
The handsome little 1911 model monoplane, equipped with a water-skimming device, similar to a pontoon, had been in operation since the wind had gone down, or about 5:30 o'clock. Mr. Curtiss was demonstrating how a craft could be brought down to the level of the water and then skim over it like a bird, sometimes resting on it bodily. It was for the latter purpose that the pontoon was used. Power boats on the lake at the time reported that the aviator dropped down besides them and passed by on the surface of the water with no difficult whatever.
With no apparent cause, unless it was a sudden stopping of the engine, the monoplane dropped into the water about twenty feet from the shore and near the landing place of the Curtiss aeroplane. The lower part of the aeroplane was submerged in water seven feet in depth, one wing was badly torn and crushed and many of the bamboo rods in the framework were splintered. Mr. Curtiss, probably by pitching forward on the steering gear, received a deep gash over the eyes.
The pontoon was, according to an eye witness, smashed into kindling wood, and was carried over to the Curtiss factory by wagon. The craft was wheeled over and put into the aerodrome. The injury to Mr. Curtiss is not considered serious.Source: The Elmira New York Telegram

More than 100 actual news stories appear in the May 1911 issue. Above is a sampling of a few days of May 1911. Individual editions are $9.95 plus postage.